Careless Linemen

"Al" wrote:
"karl gruber" wrote in message
...
Actually, in Oregon, it IS against the law to fuel your own airplane.
Can't fuel your own car either.

Karl
"Curator" N185KG

Really? Cite?

I can provide a citation that shows motorcycle drivers and pilots at
certain airports are exempt from Oregon's fuelish law:

"Exemptions to Oregon’s fueling laws allow certain individuals and
businesses to dispense Class 1 flammable liquids (gasoline). Those
exemptions a

1. Pilots may fuel their own aircraft at airports permitted by the
Oregon Department of Aviation.
2. Motorcyclists, operating their motorcycle, may handle the nozzle to
dispense gasoline. If a motorcyclist wants to fuel their motorcycle, the
retail station attendant is required to activate the pump and hand the
nozzle to the motorcyclist. When the fueling is complete, the motorcyclist
is required to hand the nozzle back to the attendant to deactivate the
dispenser. A motorcyclist may not activate or deactivate the fuel
dispensing devices."

From:
http://www.oregon.gov/OOHS/SFM/Cardlock_Program.shtml

Look it up yourself.


"Al" wrote in message
...

"karl gruber" wrote in message
...
Actually, in Oregon, it IS against the law to fuel your own airplane.
Can't fuel your own car either.

Karl
"Curator" N185KG

Really? Cite?

Al

I NEVER let someone else fuel my Skywagon.

Just be there and ask nicely for the hose.


Karl
"Curator" N185KG


"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
...
How do the rest of you deal with careless linemen? The kind who scratch
your airplane or chip the paint because they are either careless or have
not been properly trained on how to avoid damaging aircraft when refueling
'em.

Case in point - this afternoon I stopped by the airport to prep for a trip
to the beach tomorrow. I grabbed a couple of maps and the handheld gps
from the airplane while the lineman was getting ready to fuel the
airplane. By the time I grabbed those things, the lineman had already
filled the left tank, and there was a brand spankin' new paint chip near
the fuel filler on the tank. How do I know it was brand new? Because I'd
just wiped off a nice collection of bugs from the airplane, and it wasn't
chipped then... Anyway, I eased over to see how he was coming with the
other tank, and he had the entire 10" long nozzle in the right tank and
was using a notch in the fuel nozzle's handle to catch the edge of the
fuel filler neck to provide a mechanical stop.

I say "hey, let me show you something" and show him that the sharp corner
of the casting is resting on the fuel filler. He pulls the nozzle out of
the tank, and there is a noticable mark on the paint where he was resting
the nozzle. He said he didn't realize he was doing that. I didn't point
out the new chip on the other wing, which I speculate was caused by either
the same technique, or the other technique I've seen many times, where the
lineman puts the nozzle into the tank at a 45 degree angle, and the weight
of the nozzle rests on the painted edge of the fuel filler.

This is my home airport, and the guy was nice enough, so I didn't make an
issue out of it, but it is really frustrating to have avoidable dings and
chips on your airplane when it costs $5k or $10k to have the thing
repainted...

BTW, self serve is not an option at my home field, which is why I usually
go elsewhere for fuel. That and the high prices that are caused by having
to pay the "fuel truck guy" to hang around the airport all day long when
there really isn't much fuel being sold...

Also, now that I'm giving this more thought, I need to see if the guy
dented the bottom of my fuel tanks by sticking the nozzle so far in
there... Sheesh...

And for the lineguys that fill the tanks properly...how 'bout a nice
tip? This topic came up a while ago, but I always try to remember to
tip them. As others have pointed out, their wage is lousy and a buck
or two doesn't hurt us pilots and is much appreciated by them.

On Fri, 26 May 2006 21:26:15 -0700, Bob Fry wrote:

And for the lineguys that fill the tanks properly...how 'bout a nice
tip?

why? it is his job.

extra service (more than usual): I agree: tip him/her.

This topic came up a while ago, but I always try to remember to
tip them. As others have pointed out, their wage is lousy and a buck
or two doesn't hurt us pilots and is much appreciated by them.

so to give his boss an incentive to go on with the lousy pay?

If I do my job I only get my rate and no extras. If I do more than expected
then I happily accept a tip.

#m
--
Lost the phone number of a good friend? Don't know whom the kids called?
Don't worry any longer! Call 1-800-2NSA ... we are here to help you!

Martin Hotze wrote:
If I do my job I only get my rate and no extras. If I do more than expected
then I happily accept a tip.



You should get *his* rate then. Do you work harder in your job?

You want to pay for substandard work, don't complain if you get it.
Irregardless of whether it's the FBO's decision to pay the poor slob slave
wages, it's the interaction between the lineman and your aircraft that matters.
You can stand by your principles and be a tight ass or you can be known on the
ramp as the guy who tips. Guess who'll end up getting the better service?

Right? Wrong? It doesn't matter. That's just the way it is.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE

On Sat, 27 May 2006 08:56:33 GMT, Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:

You can stand by your principles and be a tight ass or you can be known on the
ramp as the guy who tips. Guess who'll end up getting the better service?

well, tip every single time but once. What will happen? You're then short
before making excuses because you don't have tipped.

#m
--
Lost the phone number of a good friend? Don't know whom the kids called?
Don't worry any longer! Call 1-800-2NSA ... we are here to help you!

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message
. ..
Martin Hotze wrote:
If I do my job I only get my rate and no extras. If I do more than
expected
then I happily accept a tip.



You should get *his* rate then. Do you work harder in your job?

You want to pay for substandard work, don't complain if you get it.
Irregardless of whether it's the FBO's decision to pay the poor slob slave
wages, it's the interaction between the lineman and your aircraft that
matters. You can stand by your principles and be a tight ass or you can be
known on the ramp as the guy who tips. Guess who'll end up getting the
better service?

Right? Wrong? It doesn't matter. That's just the way it is.

You'll have to excuse Martin. He is used to the European idea of no tips
for service people.

Sure does make for lousy service at restaurants, from what I have noticed.

It may not be right for the management to pay poor, but the tipping model
does make for much better service, believe it or not, Martin.
--
Jim in NC

On Sat, 27 May 2006 14:59:30 -0400, Morgans wrote:

You'll have to excuse Martin. He is used to the European idea of no tips
for service people.

you're wrong on this one. I am against tipping service people without good
reason.

Sure does make for lousy service at restaurants, from what I have noticed.

wrong. again.

It may not be right for the management to pay poor, but the tipping model
does make for much better service, believe it or not, Martin.

I love to tip (read: honor) for service better than expected; and I spread
the word about receiving good (better than usual) service. But I don't tip
just because I received what I paid for. For average service at
§pickyourchoice (restaurant, bar, lineguy, ...) I don't want to give
_extra_ money (read: honor his average service). And I don't want to
substitute his boss with poor wages (because the boss also expects tips to
be given).

Do you tip the blonde braindead waitress serving your plate with her finger
in your meal? just because you always tip at restaurants and because she
had a big dumb grin on her face hiding her unskilled serving 'technique'?

#m
--
Lost the phone number of a good friend? Don't know whom the kids called?
Don't worry any longer! Call 1-800-2NSA ... we are here to help you!

"MH" == Martin Hotze writes:

MH On Fri, 26 May 2006 21:26:15 -0700, Bob Fry wrote:
And for the lineguys that fill the tanks properly...how 'bout a
nice tip?

MH why? it is his job.

Because, Martin, in Europe even the lowest paid employee gets health
coverage, vacation, probably a decent wage, etc.

Here they get squat. That is American slang for little to nothing.

On overnight cross-country trips I tip the person who drives the car
to pick me up at the airport and takes me to the motel. Why? Because
maybe that way they'll be happy to get a call from some lone pilot
needing a ride into town, instead of ignoring the call.

General aviation has few friends in this country. A few bucks spread
around doesn't cost me anything in relation to flying costs, and may
generate a few more friends of small planes.